Eual Lee McCroskey

Eual was born in 1925 at Springfield and grew up on a dairy farm. After completing his high school education Eual went to work for Edge Supply Company in Springfield.

In 1945 Eual bought his first registered Jersey cow.

In 1946 he married his Republic High School sweetheart Mildred Davis and they had three sons-Steven, Bruce, and David. All are married and supplied the McCroskeys with seven grandchildren.

After leaving Edge Supply, Eual worked as salesman for Peer Hardware in Springfield for five years. Then the McCroskeys had the opportunity to take on a full time farming operation with his father-in-law. He increased his herd of registered Jerseys and in six years the McCroskeys had a herd large enough to start farming on their own in 1956 on 92 acres 20 miles from Springfield in Christian County.

Eual was a full-time dairy farmer for two years and then went to work for Rhoades Supply. He was with Rhoades for 20 years and then retired in 1977. Following retirement Eual went back to farming with his Jerseys on a smaller scale for 20 years.

Even though Eual worked off the farm for many years he always had registered Jerseys and sold Grade-A milk over a period of 52 years. During the 52 years he bought only three animals-two heifers and a cow.

Eual became interested in showing cattle in the 50s. Fred Durnell, a friend of the family, took two of the McCroskey heifers on the Western Show Circuit and also to the Cow Palace in California, doing well and bringing recognition to the McCroskey Jersey herd.

The Missouri dairyman was a long time member of the Missouri Jersey Club. The Club nominated Eual to receive the Hall of Honors Pioneer Dairy Leadership Award.

The McCroskey sons became interested in dairying and son Steven started showing Jerseys in 1957. Bruce and David followed suit as they became old enough and showed their Jerseys for 25 years. Steven and Bruce now raise Jerseys on their own farms near Marionville. David, the youngest, completed college and works as a salesman for Nutrena.

The sons have done well through the years on the Jersey show circuit and have shown a number of champions. As a high school student David took two animals to the All-American Jersey Show in Ohio.

To recognize Eual and Steven a rotating Premier Breeder Award was established at the Ozark Empire Fair in their names in 1999. Mike Raush, Billings, was the first to receive the award at the 1999 Fair.

Eual was a member and trustee of the First Baptist Church in Billings. He was a devout Christian and Jersey producer.

He died as a result of heart trouble July 25, 1999, at the Cox Medical Center in Springfield. The McCroskeys lived in Billings, Mo.